Knob structure



E. J. WILLIAMS May 9, 1950 KNOB STRUCTURE Filed July 16, 1945 FIGJ.

FIG.3.

INVENTOR.

EAR L J WILLIAMS ATTO RNEYS Patented May 9, 1950 KNOB STRUCTURE Earl J. Williams, Detroit, Mich., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Lectra Products, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application July 16, 1945, Serial No. 605,360

9 Claims.

The invention relates to knobs more particularly designed for use upon automobiles, radios, cabinet and other doors.

It is an object of the invention to obtain a construction which is readily attachable to its cooperating shank.

It is a further object to obtain a construction which, when provided with lettering or other indicia on its outer face, will insure the arrangement of the same in upright readable position.

It is a further object to obtain a simple and inexpensive construction. With these objects in view the invention consists in the construction as hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a central longitudinal section through my improved knob showing the same attached to its cooperating shank;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation;

Fig. 4 is a section on line 4-4, Fig. 1.

My improved knob comprises an element A constituting the knob proper and which may be formed of any suitable material, such as wood, glass, molded plastics, etc. Where it is to be used on instruments having other like knobs, the front face of the member A is preferably provided with lettering or other indicia designating its particular function. Thus, as shown in Fig. 2, this front face is labeled Headlights. The member A also has a conical rearwardly extending portion B provided with a central recess B opening from its rear end to receive the outer end portion C of a cooperating shank D. This recess and shank portion are of a cross'section to prevent relative rotation of the same while permitting free axial relative movement. Thus, as shown in Fig. 4, the shank portion C is flattened at C on one side to engage a corresponding recess in the knob.

The second element E of the knob is a hollow shell and is preferably a metal stamping having an inner end portion provided with a threaded nipple F for engagement with a correspondingly threaded portion G of the shank D or it may be otherwise attachable to said shank. The outer portion of the element E is flared to embrace the periphery of the knob element A and has an inturned portion H preferably formed by a spinning operation which retains said element with a free swivel engagement therewith. As shown in Fig. 1, the element A has the portion A extending outward slightly beyond the portion H of the element E.

With the construction as described, to attach the knob to its shank the portion C of the latter is first inserted into the central recess B of the element A, after which the element E may be screwed onto the threaded portion G of the shank D for secure attachment to the latter. Due to the fact that the engagement between the element A and shank portion C is non-rotative while the engagement between the elements A and E is a swivel, the indicia on the knob will always be arranged in position for reading. If the knob is used as a pull knob, this upright position of the indicia will be maintained at all times. On the other hand, if the knob is used for rotation of its shank, the latter in its normal position will hold said indicia upright.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. Knob structure comprising a shank having a threaded portion and a forwardly projecting portion of non-circular cross section, a knob body having a central rear recess non-rotatably slidable over the non-circular portion of said shank, and a sheet metal shell having a threaded rear portion engaging the threaded portion of said shank, said shell having an outwardly and forwardly flaring forward portion embracing the periphery of said knob body and an inturned annular flange having rotatable engagement with the forward peripheral portion of said knob body and exposing the central portion of the front of said knob body.

2. Knob structure comprising a threaded shank having a forwardly projecting portion of noncircular cross section, a knob body having a rear portion of reduced cross section and a recess in its rear portion slidably but non-rotatably receiving the forwardly projecting portion of said shank, said knob body having an annular seat formed peripherally around the forward face thereof, and a shell of sheet material having an internally threaded rear neck threaded to said shank and a forwardly and outwardly flared portion peripherally enclosing said knob body, said shell having an inturned, annular front flange rotatably received in the annular seat and effective to retain said knob body on said shank.

3. Knob structure comprising a threaded shank having a forwardly projecting portion of noncircular cross section, a knob body having a rear portion of reduced cross section and a recess in its rear portion slidably but non-rotatably receiving the forwardly projecting portion of said shank, said knob body having an annular seat formed peripherally around the forward face thereof, and a shell of sheet material having an internally threaded rear neck threaded to said shank and atoms:

a forwardly and outwardly flared portion peripherally enclosing said knob body, said shell having an inturned, annular front flange rotatably received in the annular seat and eifective to retain said knob body on said shank, the forward face of said knob body projecting forwardly beyond said annular flange.

4. Knob structure comprising a threaded shank having a forwardly projecting portion of noncircular cross section, a knob body having a rear portion of reduced cross section and a recess in its rear portion slidably but non-rotatably receiving the forwardly projecting portion of said shank, said knob body having an annular seat formed peripherally around the forward face thereof, and a shell of sheet material having an internally threaded rear neck threaded to said shank and a forwardly and outwardly flared portion peripherally enclosing said knob body, said shell having an inturned, annular front flange rotatably received in the annular seat and effective to retain said knob body on said shank, the forward face of said knob body projecting forwardly beyond said annular flange and carrying indicia thereon. I

5. Knob structure comprising a shank having a threaded rear portion and a forwardly projecting portion of non-rotatable cross section, a knob assembly detachably secured to said shank comprising a knob body and a shell, said knob body having a radially extending peripheral portion of circular cross section and a rear recess slidably but nonrotatably receiving the forwardly projecting portion of said shank, said shell having a threaded rear portion threaded to said shank and a forwardly extending portion rotatably engaging the peripheral portion of said knob body both forwardly and rearwardly of its dimension of greatest diameter so as to prevent relative axial movement therebetween, the rear face of said knob body beits dimension of greatest diameter so as to prevent relative axial movement therebetween, the rear face of said knob body being located with respect to the threaded portion of said shell such that upon movement of said knob assembly over said shank, the forward end of said shank enters the recess in said knob body prior to engagement between the threaded portion of said shell with the threaded rear portion of said shank.

7. Knob structure comprising a knob proper having a central recess opening from its rear end, a shank having a smooth portion axially slidably but non-rotatably engaging said central-recess and having a threaded portion in rear of said smooth portion, and a hollow shell having a threaded nipple for engaging the threaded portion of said shank and provided with a flaring portion having an open return bent end portion embracing the peripheral portion of said knob proper and having a free swivel engagement therewith.

8. A knob structure comprising a knob proper having a central recess opening from its rear end,

ing located with respect to the threaded portion of said shell such that upon movement of said prior to engagement between the threaded portion of said shell with the threaded rear portion of said shank.

6. A knob assembly for attachment to a shank having a threaded rear portion and a forwardly projecting portion of-non circula'r cross section,

V knob assembly over said shank, the forward end of said shank enters the recess in said knob'body a shank having a smooth portion axially slidably but non-rotatably engaging said central recess and having a threaded portion in rear of said smooth portion, and a hollow shell having a threaded nipple engaging the threaded portion of said shank, provided with a flaring portion forming the rear side of the knob andhaving a swivel engagement with the peripheral portion thereof.

9. Knob structure comprising a shank having a threaded portion and a forwardly projecting portion of non-circular cross section, a knob body having a rear recess non-rotatably but slidably receiving the non-circular portion of said shank,and a shelihaving a threaded rear portion engaging the threadedportion of said shank, said shell having a forwardly flaring portion bearing REFERENCES orrEp The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 192,586 Lewis et al 'July 3, 1887 470,919 Rogers Mar. 15, 1892 714,466 Fader Nov. 25, 1902 2,285,963 Gits et al.- June 9, 1942 

